《洞神真经》曰∶养生之道,以不损为延命之术,以有补为先。居安虑危而防未萌,不以小恶
为无伤而不去,不以小善为无益而不为。起卧有四时早晚,行止有至和之常制。调和筋脉,有偃仰之方;
养正除邪,有吐纳之术;流行荣卫,有补泻之法;节宣劳逸,有予夺之要。忍怒以全阴气,抑喜以
养阳气。以清虚去其狂虑,以安闲养其真性。虽少年致损,气弱体枯,年老得悟,防患补益。以气补
气,气自有余;以神补神,神无不足。气盛而形乃延长,神住而命自悠久。
《西山记》曰∶知至道者,天不杀;服元气者,地不灭。夫至道不远,只在己身。用心精微,命自
延久。《六玄旨》曰∶欲得长生,当修所生。所生之本,始乎精气。精气结而为形,形为受命之本,气
是有形之根。故午前炼干,午后炼坤。气自肾中生,自子时为始,午时为终,其气升而旺也。所以炼
干者,静坐幽室,闭目冥心,升身勿动,使气满四大,薰蒸其体,荣卫通和,积日气秀神清。及夫肾
气到心,积气生液,液自心中生,自午时为始,子时为终,其液降而盛也。所以炼坤者,闭目冥心,敛
身正坐,以两手抱腹,降心火于丹田,烹蒸气海,积日气旺神清。此补益于气也。冬避寒,夏避暑,
寒避风,暑避热。动勿劳其肢体,闲勿怠其肌肤。五日一浴,十日一沐。气旺时勿动,血旺时不息。
此补益于形也。永绝嗜欲,见境不动心者,上也。假借修真,因死求生,形虽交而气不交,体虽浊而
形不浊。不得已而亲妇人,勿使走失。时
暂弃其情爱,抽身于后,赚心气以补下元,可以安性命者,次也。三十岁,阴阳两停,而五谷秀气无
所制作,未免情欲,当五日一度。四十岁者,十日一度。五十岁者,二十日一度。六十岁者,一月一度。
六十四岁,卦尽之年,更不言度也。若高上玄元,欲求长生不死者,可不议此也。此补益于精也。补
益形者,不若补益精;补益精者,不若补益气;补益气者,不若补益神,补益于神,则形气永安。古今
达士,谈益神之道,不为少矣,往往不见功者,非特出至诚也,神为主故耳。昔刘纲真人,于甲子庚申生
日本命祭享形神,尚得神聚,长生不死。赵真人,于静房空室,调神出壳,如壮士展臂,可千万里,阴魂
不敢相干,亦得留形住世。况夫补已散之灵气,益见在之魂神?祸福预知,神之灵也。死生永除,神之真
也。补神之道,有清身养命,绝念忘思,动静不失时,修炼应其法,丹就而气自真,气真而神自益矣。
According to the *Dongshen Zhenjing* (True Scripture of the Nether Deity): The way of health preservation lies in not causing damage as a method to prolong life, and prioritizing supplementation. One should contemplate danger while in safety and prevent issues before they arise; one should not consider minor evils as harmless and thus fail to eliminate them, nor consider minor goods as unbeneficial and thus fail to practice them. Rising and lying down should follow the early and late rhythms of the four seasons; walking and stopping should adhere to the constant system of utmost harmony. To harmonize the sinews and vessels, there are methods of reclining and bending; to nourish righteous Qi and dispel evil, there are techniques of Tu Na (exhaling stale air and inhaling fresh air); to circulate Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) and Wei Qi (Defensive Qi), there are methods of tonification and sedation; to regulate and release labor and rest, there are principles of giving and taking. Endure anger to preserve Yin Qi; restrain joy to nourish Yang Qi. Use clarity and emptiness to remove wild thoughts; use peace and leisure to cultivate one's true nature. Even if damage was incurred in youth, leading to weak Qi and withered body, understanding attained in old age can prevent harm and provide supplementation. Supplementing Qi with Qi ensures Qi is abundant; supplementing Shen (Spirit) with Shen ensures Shen is sufficient. When Qi is vigorous, the form extends its life; when Shen remains, destiny naturally becomes long-lasting.
The *Xishan Ji* (Record of Mount Xi) states: Those who understand the Supreme Dao are not killed by Heaven; those who consume Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) are not extinguished by Earth. The Supreme Dao is not far away; it resides only within oneself. With meticulous attention, life naturally extends.
The *Liuxuan Zhi* (Six Mysteries' Principles) says: To desire longevity, one must cultivate the source of one's life. The root of this source begins with Jing (Essence) and Qi. Jing and Qi condense to form the physical body; the body is the foundation of receiving destiny, and Qi is the root of the有形 (form). Therefore, refine "Qian" (Heaven/Yang) in the morning and "Kun" (Earth/Yin) in the afternoon. Qi arises from the Kidneys, starting at Zi hour (23:00-01:00) and ending at Wu hour (11:00-13:00); during this time, Qi ascends and becomes vigorous. Thus, refining Qian involves sitting quietly in a secluded room, closing the eyes and calming the mind, keeping the body upright and still, allowing Qi to fill the four limbs, steaming the body, so that Ying and Wei Qi become smooth and harmonious. After many days, Qi becomes elegant and Shen becomes clear. When Kidney Qi reaches the Heart, accumulated Qi generates fluids. Fluids arise from the Heart, starting at Wu hour and ending at Zi hour; during this time, fluids descend and become abundant. Thus, refining Kun involves closing the eyes and calming the mind, gathering the body into an upright sitting posture, holding the abdomen with both hands, descending Heart Fire into the Dantian (Elixir Field), and cooking/stewing the Qi Hai (Sea of Qi) acupoint. After many days, Qi becomes vigorous and Shen becomes clear. This is the supplementation of Qi. In winter, avoid cold; in summer, avoid heat. When avoiding cold, avoid wind; when avoiding heat, avoid hot environments. Do not exhaust the limbs through movement; do not neglect the skin through idleness. Bathe every five days; wash hair every ten days. Do not move when Qi is vigorous; do not cease activity when Blood is vigorous. This is the supplementation of Form. Permanently cutting off desires and remaining unmoved by external circumstances is the highest level. Borrowing from cultivation, seeking life through death, where forms interact but Qi does not, and bodies are turbid but forms remain pure, is secondary. If one must engage with women, do not allow the loss of Essence. Temporarily abandoning affection, withdrawing physically, and capturing Heart Qi to supplement the Lower Origin (Yuan) can secure life and destiny; this is the next best approach. At thirty years old, Yin and Yang are balanced, and the essence of the five grains is not fully utilized, making desires inevitable; sexual intercourse should occur once every five days. At forty, once every ten days. At fifty, once every twenty days. At sixty, once a month. At sixty-four, the year when hexagrams are exhausted, frequency is no longer discussed. For those pursuing the high and profound Xuan Yuan (Mysterious Origin) path to seek immortality, these rules may be disregarded. This is the supplementation of Jing. Supplementing Form is inferior to supplementing Jing; supplementing Jing is inferior to supplementing Qi; supplementing Qi is inferior to supplementing Shen. Supplementing Shen ensures the permanent safety of Form and Qi. Scholars throughout history have discussed the way of supplementing Shen extensively, yet often see no results. This is not merely due to a lack of sincerity, but because Shen is the master. In the past, the True Person Liu Gang offered sacrifices to his Form and Shen on his Jiazi Gengshen birth day, thereby gathering Shen and achieving immortality. The True Person Zhao, in a quiet empty room, guided Shen out of the shell, extending like a strong man stretching his arms, reaching thousands of miles, where yin spirits dared not interfere, thus retaining his form in the world. How much more so for supplementing scattered spiritual Qi and enhancing existing soul-spirit? Foreseeing fortune and misfortune is the spirituality of Shen; permanently eliminating death and life is the truth of Shen. The way to supplement Shen includes cleansing the body and nurturing life, cutting off thoughts and forgetting worries, ensuring movement and stillness align with timing, and cultivating according to proper methods. When the Elixir is achieved, Qi becomes true; when Qi is true, Shen is naturally supplemented.